The ICC board of directors is pleased to announce that the next ICC annual general meeting (AGM) will be held on August 2 from 1 PM ET (10 AM PT). The meeting will be held on a videoconferencing platform.   

An online election will also be held for the 2 available seats in the ICC board of directors. We encourage all interested members to consult with Section 2 of Article 5 of the ICC by-laws for nomination eligibility, and if eligible, declare their nomination by sending an email to [email protected]. The deadline for sending nomination emails is July 14, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET. The email must include and attach the following:  

• A confirmation by the nominee that he or she has nominated himself or herself, or that he or she has been nominated by others and has accepted such nomination, for election to the ICC board of directors;  
• A confirmation by the nominee that he/she meets the eligibility criteria, as set out in Section 2 of Article 5 of the ICC by-laws;  
• A government-issued ID; and  
• A synopsis of the nominee’s background/biographical sketch and the reasons they wish to serve as a director on the ICC board of directors (maximum 300 words in English. Farsi is optional. This information is to be provided in MS Word or pdf file format). A passport size photo of the nominee in digital format is also optional. Information and the photograph provided by the nominees will be posted on the ICC website.  

Please note that only ICC members who have joined/renewed their membership by July 24, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET will be entitled to attend the upcoming AGM and vote in the election. For any membership questions, you may contact [email protected].  

• In the upcoming election, members will choose two board members. The election will be held online, starting and ending prior to the AGM. Members will receive a link through email to participate in the election after July 25th. Election results will be announced at the AGM.  
• There are proposed changes to ICC bylaws by the board of directors which will be on the ballot for the AGM. The details will be announced shortly.
• The ICC board of directors has selected an election committee, consisting of three ICC members, to oversee the election process. These individuals are Mr. Ahmad Ehsandar, Mr. Habib Ghaffari, and Mr. Moslem Noori. 

Further details such as instructions for attending the AGM, the link for online voting, and the AGM videoconferencing will be shared with the members in future communications. 

The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) expresses its deep concern regarding the treatment of Iran’s national football team, players, officials, and supporters during the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

Sport has long served as a bridge between peoples, cultures, and nations. International sporting events should be spaces where athletes are judged by their performance on the field; not by political tensions, nationality, ethnicity, religion, or geopolitical disputes. Unfortunately, reports emerging from the tournament suggest that Iran’s national team has faced extraordinary logistical, administrative, and political obstacles that have not been applied equally to other participating nations.

According to multiple media reports, Iranian players and officials have faced visa restrictions, travel disruptions, the denial of entry to members of their delegation, forced cross-border travel arrangements, and limited access to the same accommodations and recovery opportunities afforded to other teams. Iranian players and coaching staff have publicly stated that these conditions have negatively affected their preparation, well-being, and ability to compete on equal terms.

ICC is equally troubled by reports of hostility directed toward the Iranian national anthem, the Iranian flag, and Iranian supporters. While individuals have every right to peacefully express political opinions, collective hostility toward athletes and fans based solely on their nationality undermines the principles of fairness, inclusion, and mutual respect that international sport is meant to uphold.

The Iranian national team does not represent a monolithic political viewpoint. It consists of athletes who have dedicated their lives to representing their country on the world’s biggest sporting stage. Regardless of one’s political beliefs, players should not become targets of discrimination, harassment, or unequal treatment.

We therefore call upon FIFA, tournament organizers, and host authorities in Canada, the United States, and Mexico to:

1. Ensure that all participating teams are treated fairly and consistently.
2. Guarantee equal access to travel, accommodations, training facilities, and recovery opportunities.
3. Protect players, officials, and supporters from discrimination and harassment.
4. Uphold FIFA’s commitment to respect, inclusion, and the non-politicization of sport.
5. Ensure that all fans can safely and peacefully support their teams without intimidation.

The Iranian Canadian Congress firmly believes that disagreements between governments should never result in the unequal treatment of athletes or ordinary people. The World Cup should be a celebration of human excellence, international friendship, and the unifying power of sport.

At a time when divisions around the world are deepening, we urge all stakeholders to reaffirm the principles of dignity, equality, and respect for all participants.

Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) 

On May 12th, 2026, Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada sent the following response to Mona Ghassemi, President of ICC:

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iraniancanadiancongress/pages/4726/attachments/original/1779210397/Message_from_the_Prime_Minister_of_Canada.pdf?1779210397

Mona Ghassemi, sent the letter below to the Prime Minister on 3rd of March, 2026:

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iraniancanadiancongress/pages/4726/attachments/original/1779210403/Iranian_Canadian_Congress_letter_to_Prime_Minister-Signed.pdf?1779210403

Raise Your Voice for Accountability and International Law

Sign here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Sign/e-7389

Step 2: Confirm in the email you get to register your signature.

A new House of Commons e-petition (e-7389) is calling on the Government of Canada to condemn the deadly attack on a school in Minab, Iran, support independent investigations, and review Canada’s military and arms-transfer relationships connected to the War on Iran.

If you believe civilian lives, international humanitarian law, and accountability matter, regardless of politics, take one minute to sign and share.

Every signature helps bring the issue before Parliament. Please share with friends, family, and your community across Canada.

Mona Borghei, Vice President of the Iranian Canadian Congress has written a letter to urge the Government of Canada to take a clear and principled position in response to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, including the attack on the Institute Pasteur of Iran, a critical scientific and public health institution.

We respectfully call on your government to unequivocally condemn these acts and to commit to non-participation in this conflict.

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iraniancanadiancongress/pages/4660/attachments/original/1775737143/ICC_Letter_Louis_Pasteur_Institute_April_2026.pdf?1775737143

ICC president, Mona Ghassemi wrote to Avi Lewis, the new leader of NDP Canada to congratulate him on his recent election:

Mona Ghassemi, President of Iranian Canadian Congress has written the following letter to Prime Minister, Mark Carney, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand and Minister of National Defence, David McGuinty:

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iraniancanadiancongress/pages/4594/attachments/original/1774975452/ICC_Letter_Mark_Carney_March_27_2026.pdf?1774975452

ICC President, Mona Ghassemi has sent the following letter in support of Ms. Khadija Barbe to the leadership of Mères au front:

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iraniancanadiancongress/pages/4561/attachments/original/1774620950/2026-03-21_Re%CC%81ponse_Me%CC%80res_au_front.pdf?1774620950

Joint Press Release
Iranian‑Canadian Congress & Iranians United for Palestine

Date: 7 March 2026

Unwavering Condemnation of Systematic Attacks on Healthcare Institutions and Critical Infrastructure in Iran

The Iranian Canadian Congress and Iranians United for Palestine unequivocally condemn the systematic and ruthless attacks on healthcare institutions and critical infrastructure in Iran led by US-Israel forces.

Recent assaults have left indelible scars, severely damaging vital medical facilities such as Khatam Hospital, Gandhi Hospital, and various rehabilitation and welfare centers. Reports detail that patients have been injured as hospital structures collapsed during strikes, with the Valiasr Burn Hospital rendered completely inoperable.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has confirmed 13 assaults on healthcare in Iran, alongside attacks on four ambulances resulting in the tragic deaths of four healthcare workers and injuries to 25 others. The targeting of the Iranian Red Crescent, a humanitarian organization, exposes the depths of this barbarism, endangering medics and undermining humanitarian efforts.

This callous campaign echoes Israel's normalized assaults on healthcare systems, relentlessly targeting of several healthcare institution in Gaza during its genocidal actions. The precedent set by these heinous acts has emboldened aggressors to continue their assault on vulnerable populations, with little regard for human life or dignity.

The existing humanitarian crisis is compounded by indirect sanctions, rendering medications scarce in Iran. While the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) claims "medicine and medical devices" are technically exempt from sanctions, the draconian licensing and shipping processes serve only to restrict access further. This leads to devastating medicine shortages, skyrocketing prices, and loss of life due to interrupted supplies.

In addition to healthcare facilities, recent attacks on a desalination plant in Qeshm Island and an oil refinery outside of Tehran make clear that this aggression knows no bounds. These assaults aim not only at eradicating essential services, but also at instilling fear and despair in the Iranian populace.

Furthermore, the assault on education cannot be overlooked. Multiple schools have been attacked in Iran, culminating in the tragic school massacre in Minab, where over 160 casualties were reported killed and many more injured, most of whom are elementary school-aged girls. Such actions are a disgrace to humanity and must be met with unyielding global condemnation.

This war against Iran is illegal, breaching both U.S. domestic policy—which requires Congressional approval for military action—and several tenets of international law, including the United Nations Charter (Article 2, Section 4), which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, and the Geneva Conventions, which protect civilians in times of conflict.

The impact extends beyond the immediate region; the WHO’s logistics hub for global health emergencies in Dubai is currently paralyzed due to ongoing insecurity, airspace closures and restrictions affecting access to the strait of Hormuz. This facility, having processed over 500 emergency orders for 75 countries last year, is essential for global health efforts.

We also wish to address Mark Carney’s contradicting statements regarding Canada's potential involvement in this illegal war. During the World Economic Forum in Davos, he emphasized the importance of adhering to a "rules-based international order." In light of this, we respectfully urge Canada to refrain from participating in actions that contravene international law and instead uphold its commitment to peace and diplomacy. Canada has the opportunity to lead by example, prioritizing humanitarian values and rejecting any involvement in aggressive military actions just as it appropriately did so in the US-UK led war on Iraq in 2003.

The international community must act swiftly and decisively to put an end to these violent and murderous assaults on healthcare and critical infrastructure. We must protect the innocent lives of civilians—especially the children and the vulnerable—from such overwhelming brutality.